McINALLY has been banned for four games after being charged with misconduct for asking ref John McKendrick and his assistants to dine in a separate area from his players after a match last month.

JIM McInally has been handed a four-game ban for denying ref John McKendrick his dinner.

The Peterhead boss copped the dugout suspension for a bizarre misconduct charge after the ‘Grubgate’ incident with officials in a lounge at Balmoor Stadium.

McInally was reported by McKendrick after his side’s 1-1 draw with League Two rivals East Stirling last month.

The 49-year-old asked the whistler and his assistants not to dine in the same area as the players after the match.

The manager feared members of his squad – who were angry at some of the whistler’s decisions during the match – would make comments to McKendrick.

Anything said after the match to the referee could have been reported and would have seen players facing a misconduct charge.

McKendrick and his assistants ignored McInally’s plea and Record Sport understands they felt the request was made in a jocular fashion.

When the trio duly appeared in the dining area to join the squads of both sides, McInally reiterated his desire for them to leave.

However, due to the manner in which he made his second request for the officials to leave, he was reported to Hampden bosses by McKendrick.

McInally is facing a four-game suspension after an SFA hearing assessed the incident but the Balmoor club have slapped in an immediate appeal.

Peterhead are disappointed at McInally’s treatment and believe it is inconsistent as Dundee United striker Nadir Cifti was given only a two-game ban, with one match suspended, for placing his hands on an official.

McInally’s case was heard a day after the Scottish Senior Football Referees Association slammed the governing body for leniency and the appeal will be heard next month.

Ex-Morton boss McInally has a history of run-ins with officials and once accused former referees’ chief Hugh Dallas of having a vendetta against his side when he was in charge of East Stirling.

He was previously banned from the dugout for 16 games for “excessive misconduct” while at Shire after twice being sent to the stand by the referee during a 1-1 draw against Cowdenbeath in 2009.

The match ended Shire’s hopes of gaining promotion from the Third Division and McInally later apologised for his behaviour, describing his reaction as a “disgrace”.

He was initially given a 12-match ban but this was extended to 16 matches when he appealed.